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1 Solving quadratic equations 3.2 Introduction A quadratic equation is one which can be written in the form ax 2 + bx + c = 0 where a, b and c are numbers and x is the unknown whose value(s) we wish to find. In this Block we describe several ways in which quadratic equations can be solved. Prerequisites Before starting this Block you should... Learning Outcomes After completing this Block you should be able to... recognise a quadratic equation solve a quadratic equation by factorisation solve a quadratic equation using a standard formula solve a quadratic equation by completing the square interpret the solution of a quadratic graphically be able to solve linear equations Learning Style To achieve what is expected of you... allocate sufficient study time briefly revise the prerequisite material attempt every guided exercise and most of the other exercises

2 1. Quadratic Equations Key Point A quadratic equation is one which can be written in the form ax 2 + bx + c =0 a 0 where a, b and c are given numbers and x is the unknown whose value(s) we wish to find. For example 2x 2 +7x 3=0, x 2 + x +1=0, 0.5x 2 +3x +9=0 are all quadratic equations. To ensure the presence of the x 2 term the number a, in the general expression ax 2 + bx + c, cannot be zero. However b and/or c may be zero, so that 4x 2 +3x =0, 2x 2 3 = 0 and 6x 2 =0 are also quadratic equations. Frequently, quadratic equations occur in non-standard form but where necessary they can be rearranged into standard. For example 3x 2 +5x =8, can be re-written as 3x 2 +5x 8=0 2x 2 =8x 9, can be re-written as 2x 2 8x +9=0 1+x = 1 x, can be re-written as x2 + x 1=0 To solve a quadratic equation we must find values of the unknown x which make the left-hand and right-hand sides equal. Such values are known as solutions or roots of the quadratic equation. We shall now describe three techniques for solving quadratic equations: factorisation completing the square using a formula Exercises 1. Verify that x = 2 and x = 3 are both solutions of x 2 5x +6=0. 2. Verify that x = 2 and x = 3 are both solutions of x 2 +5x +6=0. Note the difference between solving quadratic equations in comparison to solving linear equations. A quadratic equation will generally have two values of x (solutions) which satisfy it whereas a linear equation only has one solution. 2. Solution by factorisation It may be possible to solve a quadratic equation by factorisation using the method described for factorizing quadratic expressions in Chapter 1 Block 5, although you should be aware that not all quadratic equations can be easily factorized. Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 0 2

3 Example Solve the equation x 2 +5x =0. Solution Factorizing and equating each factor to zero we find x 2 +5x = 0 is equivalent to x(x +5)=0 so that x = 0 and x = 5 are the two solutions. Example Solve the quadratic equation x 2 + x 6=0. Solution Factorizing the left hand side we find (x 2 + x 6) = (x + 3)(x 2) so that x 2 + x 6 = 0 is equivalent to (x + 3)(x 2)=0 When the product of two quantities equals zero, at least one of the two must equal zero. In this case either (x + 3) is zero or (x 2) is zero. It follows that x +3=0, giving x = 3 or x 2=0, giving x =2 Here there are two solutions, x = 3 and x = 2. These solutions can be checked quite easily by substitution back into the given equation. Example Solve the quadratic equation 2x 2 7x 4=0. Solution Factorizing the left hand side: (2x 2 7x 4)=(2x + 1)(x 4) so that 2x 2 7x 4 = 0 is equivalent to (2x + 1)(x 4) = 0 In this case either (2x + 1) is zero or (x 4) is zero. It follows that 2x +1=0, giving x = 1 2 or x 4=0, giving x =4 There are two solutions, x = 1 2 and x =4. 3 Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 0

5 3. Completing the square The technique known as completing the square can be used to solve quadratic equations although it is applicable in many other circumstances as well so it is well worth studying. Example (a) Show that (x +3) 2 = x 2 +6x +9 (b) Hence show that x 2 +6x can be written as (x +3) 2 9. Solution (a) Removing the brackets we find (x +3) 2 =(x + 3)(x +3)=x 2 +3x +3x +9=x 2 +6x +9 Thus (x +3) 2 = x 2 +6x +9 (b) By subtracting 9 from both sides of the previous equation it follows that (x +3) 2 9=x 2 +6x Example (a) Show that (x 4) 2 = x 2 8x +16 (b) Hence show that x 2 8x can be written as (x 4) Solution (a) Removing the brackets we find (x 4) 2 =(x 4)(x 4) = x 2 4x 4x +16=x 2 8x +16 (b) Subtracting 16 from both sides we can write (x 4) 2 16 = x 2 8x We shall now generalise the results of the previous two examples. Noting that we can write (x + k) 2 = x 2 +2kx + k 2 x 2 +2kx =(x + k) 2 k 2 Note that the constant term in the brackets on the right hand side is always half the coefficient of x on the left. This process is called completing the square. 5 Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 0

6 Key Point Completing the square The expression x 2 +2kx is equivalent to (x + k) 2 k 2 Example Complete the square for the expression x 2 +16x. Solution Comparing x 2 +16x with the general form x 2 +2kx we see that k = 8. Hence x 2 +16x =(x +8) =(x +8) 2 64 Note that the constant term in the brackets on the right, that is 8, is half the coefficient of x on the left, which is 16. Example Complete the square for the expression 5x 2 +4x. Solution Consider 5x 2 +4x. First of all the coefficient 5 is removed outside a bracket as follows 5x 2 +4x =5(x x) We can now complete the square for the quadratic expression in the brackets: x x =(x )2 Finally, multiplying both sides by 5 we find 5x 2 +4x =5 ( ) 2 2 =(x ) ( (x )2 4 ) 25 Completing the square can be used to solve quadratic equations as shown in the following examples. Example Solve the equation x 2 +6x + 2 = 0 by completing the square. Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 0 6

8 Part (c) Now obtain the roots Answer Exercises 1. Solve the quadratic equations at the end of the previous section by completing the square. 4. Solution by formula When it is difficult to factorize a quadratic equation, it may be possible to solve it using a formula which is used to calculate the roots. The formula is obtained by completing the square in the general quadratic ax 2 + bx + c. We proceed by removing the coefficient of a: ax 2 + bx + c = a[x 2 + b a x + c a ]=a[(x + b 2a )2 + c a b2 4a 2 ] Thus the solution of ax 2 + bx + c = 0 is the same as the solution to (x + b 2a )2 + c a b2 4a 2 =0 So, solving: (x + b 2a )2 = c a + b2 which leads to x = b 4a 2 2a ± c a + b2 4a 2 Simplifying this expression further we obtain the important result: Key Point If ax 2 + bx + c = 0 then the two solutions (roots) are x = b b 2 4ac 2a and x = b + b 2 4ac 2a To apply the formula to a specific quadratic equation it is necessary to identify carefully the values of a, b and c, paying particular attention to the signs of these numbers. Substitution of these values into the formula then gives the desired solutions. Note that if the quantity b 2 4ac is a positive number we can take its square root and the formula will produce two solutions known as distinct real roots. Ifb 2 4ac = 0 there will be a single root known as a repeated root. The value of this root is x = b. Finally if 2a b2 4ac is negative we say the equation possesses complex roots. These require special treatment and are described in Chapter 10. Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 0 8

10 Solution We compare the given equation with the standard form ax 2 + bx + c = 0 in order to identify a, b and c. We see that here a =2,b = 3 and c = 6. Note particularly the sign of c. Substituting these values into the formula we find x = b ± b 2 4ac 2a = 3 ± 3 2 4(2)( 6) (2)(2) = 3 ± = 3 ± ± = 4 Hence the two roots are x =1.1375, if the positive sign is taken and x = if the negative sign is taken. However, it is often sufficient to leave the solution in the so-called surd form x = 3± Try each part of this exercise Solve the equation 3x 2 x 6=0. Part (a) First identify a, b and c. Part (b) Substitute these values into the formula Part (c) Finally calculate the values of x to 4d.p.: Answer Answer Answer More exercises for you to try Solve the following quadratic equations by using the formula. Give answers exactly (where possible) or to 4d.p.: 1. x 2 +8x +1=0 2. x 2 +7x 2=0 3. x 2 +6x 2=0 4. x 2 +3x +1=0 5. 2x 2 3x +1=0 6. 2x 2 +5x 3=0 Answer Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 0 10

11 5. Geometrical description of quadratics We can plot a graph of the function y = ax 2 + bx + c (given values of a, b and c). If the graph crosses the horizontal axis it will do so when y = 0, and so the x coordinates at such points are solutions of ax 2 +bx+c = 0. Depending on the sign of a and of the nature of the solutions there are essentially just six different types of graph that can occur. These are displayed in figure 1. real, distinct roots real, equal roots complex roots y y y a>0 x x x y y y a<0 x x x Figure 1. The possible graphs of a quadratic Sometimes a graph of the quadratic is used to locate the solutions; however, this approach is generally inaccurate. This is illustrated in the following example. Example Solve the equation x 2 4x + 1 = 0 by plotting a graph of the function: y = x 2 4x Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 0

13 6. Computer Exercise or Activity For this exercise it will be necessary for you to access the computer package DERIVE. DERIVE will easily solve any quadratic equation, even if the roots are complex. DERIVE will also factorise quadratics into factors. For example consider the quadratic 3x 2 +2x 7. Key in this expression; DERIVE responds 3 x 2 +2 x 7 Now key Simplify:Factor. Choose x as your factor variable and Radical in the amount box. Then hit the Factor button. DERIVE responds with 3 (x ) (x ) If the roots of a given quadratic are complex then DERIVE will not return the factors unless you choose the Complex option in the amount box in the Factor screen. To solve a quadratic, say the quadratic 3x 2 +2x 7, simply key in Solve:Algebraically. DERIVE responds: [x = 22 1,x= 22 1] It would be a useful exercise to use DERIVE to both factorise and to solve some of the quadratics you have met in this Block. You could also use its graph plotting capabilities to plot some of the quadratics and to check that your graphs correspond with the general picture outlined in Figure Engineering Mathematics: Open Learning Unit Level 0

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